Structural device



Sept. 20, 1966 J. A. FORD STRUCTURAL DE VICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 8, 1965 m m m w.

JAMES A. FORD Se t. 20, 1966 J. A. FORD 3,273,197

STRUCTURAL DEVICE Filed Feb. 8, 1965 2 Sheets-$heet 2 INVENTOR.

J4M5 A 020 United States Patent O 3,273,197 STRUCTURAL DEVICE James A. Ford, Sturgis, Mich., assignor to Kirsch Company, Sturgis, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Filed Feb. 8, 1965, Ser. No. 433,539 23 Claims. (Cl. 16-94) This application is a continuation-in-part of Serial No. 169,794, filed January 30, 1962, now abandoned.

This invention relates to mounting means for traverse rods and relates particularly to a design for a traverse rod and cooperating bracket which in the bracket is concealed when the rod is installed, the rod can be mounted on the bracket easily and conveniently and, by a slight modification the bracket may also be utilized for mounting said traverse rod either upon a wall or a supporting ceiling.

One common and conventional traverse rod center support bracket extends over the upper part of the traverse rod and has a hook at its forward end which extends in front of and engages a forwardly projecting rib on the upper forward edge of the rod. A locking element on the bracket engages means near the upper rearward edge of the rod so that the rod is clamped between the hook and the locking element. The hook interrupts the smooth and unbroken appearance of the rod and therefore detracts from the appearance of the rod. Also, mounting of the rod is more diflicult than is desired because the hook by itself cannot effectively support the rod so that the installer must hold the bracket against the rod while manipulating the locking member which is ditficult to do particularly when the rod must simultaneously be held in an elevated position.

Moreover, in the designing of transverse rods of various styles and types, there have been problems in the past relating to the mounting thereof to either a wall or a ceiling which have been dealt with in the past by a wide variety of devices. These devices have usually been reasonably satisfactory for the particular use for which they were designed but in many cases they have been insufficiently versatile. For example, some of those designed for light loads have possessed insufiicient strength to be adaptable, at least without unreasonable expense, to the larger loads imposed by very long or heavy draperies. In other cases brackets designed for wall use have not been sufiiciently adaptable to ceiling mountings to be readily convertible thereto.

Accordingly, the objects of the invention include:

(1) To provide a cooperating traverse rod and bracket in which the traverse rod includes wall means extending in front of the bracket to conceal it from view from in front of the rod when it is installed on the rod.

(2) To provide a cooperating traverse rod and bracket, as aforesaid, in which the bracket carries projection means which are receivable in concealed groove means above the upper surface of the rod and including a locking member for clamping the rod against the bracket.

(3) To provide a cooperating traverse rod and bracket, as aforesaid, in which the rod will remain, for at least temporary purposes, on the rod in installed position without the use of manually manipulated fastening means.

(4) To provide mounting means for a traverse rod comprising a cooperating traverse rod and bracket design which may be adapted for either wall or ceiling mounting with only a slight modification for one use or the other.

(5) To provide a cooperating traverse rod and bracket design which is readily adaptable to use with a traverse rod of extruded material wherein there is provided a relatively wide and substantially flat upper surface.

(6) To provide a cooperating traverse rod and bracket design, as aforesaid, which will be easy to mount or dis- "ice mount and particularly wherein the bracket may be released from the traverse rod by the loosening of only a single screw.

(7) To provide a cooperating traverse rod and bracket design, as aforesaid, in which both the traverse rod and the bracket may be made from extruded material and the bracket then completed by various simple finishing operations, such as sawing an extruded section into segments and providing a small number of fastener holes therein.

(8) To provide a cooperating traverse rod and bracket design, as aforesaid, whose manner of operation will be obvious and thereby minimize the instructions required to be given to a user thereof.

Other objects and purposes of the invention will be apparent to persons acquainted with devices of this general type upon reading the following specification and inspection of the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is an oblique view of a traverse rod and bracket combination embodying .the invention.

FIGURE 2 is a section taken on the line IIII of FIG- URE 1 but showing also the bracket in position against a supporting wall and showing further two of the mounting screws in place.

FIGURE 2a is a fragmentary view similar to FIG- URE 2 but showing the locking key in a retracted position.

FIGURE 3 is a view similar to FIGURE 2 but showing a modification adapted for use with a ceiling.

FIGURE 4 shows the use of the invention as a splicing device.

FIGURE 5 shows a modification of the locking key.

FIGURE 6 is a sectional view similar to FIGURE 2 showing a modified construction of the traverse rod and the bracket.

Referring now to the drawings, there is shown in FIG- URES l5, for illustrative purposes, a traverse rod of the general type illustrated and described in my copending application Serial No. 159,851, filed December 18, 1961, now Patent No. 3,151,666, issued October 6, 1964. Inasmuch as the bracket of FIGURES 1-5, was developed primarily for use with the traverse rod shown, it will be described in connection therewith. However, it will be understood that the selection of this particular traverse rod design for illustration of the bracket is for illustra tive purposes only and should not be taken as limiting.

Referring first to the traverse rod, there is here shown a rod 1 of extruded material having a pair of downwardly opening channels 2 and 3. As illustrated in my abovementioned application in detail, channel 2 carries a plurality of longitudinally movable hangers H for supporting the drapery and channel 3 carries at least a portion of the master hangers M together with the operating cords. The surface 5 is to be exposed to the room and is herein termed the front of the rod.

The upper part of said traverse rod, however, is provided with an upwardly extending lug 6 having thereon a flange 6a upwardly spaced from the surface 7 of the rod body 1 to define a groove 8 therebetween, said flange 6a facing away from the front of the traverse rod to insure an unbroken surface being presented to the room. The lug 6 conceals from view the bracket hereinafter described. Spaced transversely from the flange 6a is another upwardly extending lug 9 having a flange 9a extending similarly to flange 6a and likewise spaced upwardly from the upper surface 7a of the traverse rod body 1 to define a groove 11. In this particular design the surfaces -7 and 7a of the traverse rod body are offset vertically from each other and provide a shoulder 10. However, this is in this instance a function of the design of the rod body for reasons arising out of the hanger components 3 used therewith and the bracket structure hereinafter described is caused to cooperate therewith. It should be noted that the ease by which a given bracket may be designed to cooperate with a given traverse rod further illustrates an advantage of the invention.

Turning now to the bracket itself, this is indicated generally by the numeral 12 and in the embodiment of FIG- URES 1 and 2 is adapted for mounting on a wall. The bracket consists of a horizontal portion 13 together with, in this embodiment, a vertical wall-engaging portion 14. These parts are here formed integrally with respect to each other and it will be observed as the description proceeds they have a uniform axial cross section which makes it possible and highly economic to form same by extrusion.

The horizontal portion 13 has a pair of downwardly extending ribs 16 and 17 which are spaced apart a distance to fit snugly between the upwardly extending lug 9 and the shoulder 10. A further downwardly extending rib 18 is spaced horizontally, in this case rearwardly toward the wall, from the ribs 16 and 17 to provide a recess 19 therebetween. The forward face 18a of said rib 18 is tapered as shown for reasons appearing hereinafter.

For fastening the horizontal bracket member 13 to the traverse rod body there is provided at the outer extremity of said horizontal member a projection 21 which enters the groove 8. A locking key 22 having a body part 23 is adapted at one side for fitting against the flange 18 and adapted at its other edge 24 for entering into the groove 11. A screw'26 extends through an elongated hole 27 into a suitably tapped opening 28 in the horizontal bracket member 13. The rearward edge 22a of said locking key, or at least the upper corner of said edge, is tapered as shown to match the taper of the surface 18a. The screw 26 and slot 27 are so related to said tapered surfaces that in the extreme rearward position of the key the flat upper surface 22b of the key contacts the flat lower surface 18b of the rib 18 whereby the parts may be held lightly together by the screw 26 with the key 22 retracted for preliminary assembly purposes, after which a slight manual forward thrust against the key will place the tapered surfaces in contact with each other to move the key forward along with and by the tightening of the screw 26. If preferred, however, the slot 27 may be made of such length as to prevent rearward movement of the key beyond the point of mutual contact of the tapered surfaces, whereby the forward manual thrust will be unnecessary and the forward movement of the key may be eifected solely by tightening of the screw 26.

In assembling the traverse rod body into the bracket, said traverse rod is first hooked onto the projection 21 while the locking key is in the position shown in FIGURE 2a. With the traverse rod so seated and with the project- .ing ribs 16 and 17 fitting snugly between the upwardly extending lug 9 and the shoulder 10, the locking key is moved forwardly (rightwardly as appearing in FIGURE 2) manually if necessary to place the tapered surfaces in contact with each other. Thereupon, the screw 26 is tightened and the key moved forwardly and upwardly to enter the groove 11 and to assume the position shown in FIGURE 2.

Thus, the traverse rod is easily and quickly fastened into position and it is necessary to tighten only a single screw which is conveniently reached from the lower side of the device.

Removal of the traverse rod from the bracket involves merely the loosening of the screw 26 and reversing of the above-named procedure.

For mounting the traverse rod on the ceiling, the wall portion 14 of the bracket is removed as illustrated in FIG- URE 3, either during its original manufacture or on the job, if necessary, by cutting said flange off from a part previously made with such a flange, to provide the structure shown in FIGURE 3. The remainder of the article other than the provision of a hole 37 for a mounting 4 screw 38, is identical with the above described in FIG- URES 1 and 2 and is identified by corresponding reference numerals. For this reason no further description is needed.

Modifications In all of the foregoing description, it has been assumed that the device is to be used as a bracket and such has been a principal purpose in its development. However, by providing sufficient width to both the .body part 13 and the key 22, and eliminating the fastening portion 14, the structure may be caused to function as a splicing member. This is shown in FIGURE 4 wherein a first traverse rod member 31 is engaged by the rightward portion 32a of a splice member 32 and a second traverse rod member 33 is engaged by the leftward portion 32b of such splice member 32. Keys 34 and 36 cause the traverse rod members to be firmly gripped by said splice member 32 in the same manner as above described in more detail in connection with the use of structure as a bracket. It will be noted that although the keys here are shown as two separate units, they may also be made as a single integral unit.

By lengthening the body part 13 still further, as to the full length of the traverse rod, said body part will function also as a reinforcing member, the same being invisible from the front of the assembled unit.

Likewise, if one of said pieces of traverse rod, such as the part 31 above shown, is used to mount end pulleys, then the splice means above described will in effect function as an end pulley mount inasmuch as the splice in question Will be between a pulley-containing end piece and an adjacent traverse rod.

In the above-described parts, the key has been shown as sliding by means of the slot 27 and screw 28. In FIG- URE 5 there is shown a bottom view of an alternate means of effecting movement of that edge of the key which overlaps and engages the traverse member, namely by providing such edge on a pivotally mounted cam member. FIGURE 5 shows a cam member 41 overlapping and engaging the flange 9a of a traverse rod member in the manner and for the same purposes as is shown in FIGURE 2 with respect to the key 22. This arrangement permits a preliminary tightening of the screw 26 for adjustment of the traverse rod with respect to the bracket followed by final tightening when said traverse rod is to be gripped firmly in a selected position.

Referring now to FIGURE 6, there is shown a traverse rod 40 which consists of a tube 41 of uniform cross section throughout its length. The tube consists of a substantially flat rear wall 42, a substantially flat upper wall 43 and a substantially partially cylindrical wall portion 44 which forms the front and bottom walls of the rod. The partially cylindrical wall portion 44 has in this embodiment :a series of uniformly circumferentially spaced; lengthwise extending indentations or flutes 46 therein.

The upper wall portion 43 of the rod has an upstanding lug 47 and a rearwardly projecting flange 48 which is spaced upwardly from the upper surface of the rod to form ;a groove 49. It will be observed that the front wall of the lug 47 and the upper surface of the flange 48 are shaped so as to present substantially the same appearance and constitute an extension of the cylindrical wall portion 44 of the rod.

The upper edge portion of the rear wall 42 is formed to provide a groove 50 which opens rearwardly. The upper wall 43 of the rod has a rearwardly extending flange 51 which forms one side of the groove 50. The flange 51 has a downwardly projecting rib 52 at its rearward end and said rib is disposed rearwardly of the rear wall 42.

The bracket 56 has a vertical wall engaging portion 57 and a horizontal portion 58. The horizontal portion 58 is shaped at its free end to form a narrow projection 59 which is adapted to be snugly received within the groove 49. The upper surface of the remainder of the horizontal portion 58 preferably is flat and substantially flush with the upper surface of the flange 48. The lug 47 conceals the horizontal portion 58 from view [from in front of the rod. The lower surface of the horizontal portion 58 also is flat and rests on the upper surface of the upper Wall 43.

A substantially L-shaped locking member 60, here integral with the portion 58, projects downwardly from the lower surface of the horizontal portion 58 of the bracket and it consists of a short vertical leg 61 and a relatively long and flexible horizontal leg 62 which projects toward the rod 40. The horizontal leg 62 has an enlarged end bead 63 which is receivable in the groove 50.

A screw 66 is threaded through the horizontal leg 62 into the horizontal portion 58 of the bracket for moving said horizontal leg upwardly so that the flange 51 and rib 52 can be snugly gripped between the end bead 63 and the opposing section of the horizontal portion 58 whereby the rod 40 is releasably held against removal from the bracket. The end bead 63 and the rib 52 interfere somewhat so as to hinder lateral movement of said end bead with respect to the groove 50.

The rod 40 is attached to the bracket 56 by moving the rod rearwardly from in front of the bracket so that the projection 59 enters the groove 49 and end bead 63 enters the groove 50. It will be observed that the projection 59 is relatively long and it provides adequate support for the rod, before the screw 66 is tightened, to prevent the rod from tending to rotate, or roll, off the bracket. Further, in this embodiment, a substantial portion, which could readily be a major portion, of the weight of the rod is beyond the end of the bracket so that, even if the rod could pivot at the interlock provided by the projection 59 and groove 49, it would rotate in a clockwise (as seen in FIGURE 6) direction whereby its flange 51 would bear against the bracket portion 58. Thus, even before the screw is tightened the rod will rest on the bracket whereby it becomes unnecessary for the installer to hold it in place while he is tightening the screw and the mounting thereof is facilitated. Also, the enlarged end bead 63 has a form of snap lock engagement with the rib 52 for the same purpose. The rod 40 can then be firmly clamped in place by threading the screw 66 into the horizontal portion 58.

The rod 40 can be removed from the bracket 56 by following the reverse procedure.

It will be noted that the entirety of the rod 40 lies within an imaginary circle 70 which contacts the outermost points on the partially cylindrical portion 44 of the rod. Thus, cylindrical end caps having an internal diameter suitable for gripping the rod 40 can be sleeved onto the ends of the rod in the manner and for the reasons discussed in detail in US. Patent 3,119,442.

Although particular preferred embodiments of the invention have been disclosed above in detail for illustrative purposes, it will be understood that variations or modifications of such disclosure, which lie within the scope of the appended claims are fully contemplated.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A traverse rod and support bracket, comprising:

an elongated hollow traverse rod having front, top and rear walls, said top wall having means defining groove means which is open along one lateral side thereof, said rod having upstanding surface means extending from one end to the other end of said rod and disposed in front of and extending above said groove means whereby said groove means is concealed from View from in front of said rod by said surface means; a bracket having a mounting portion located rearwardly of said rear wall of said rod and having a horizontal rod-engaging portion extending fr-ontwardly from said mounting portion over said top wall of said rod, said mounting portion being fastenable to a supporting surface, projection means on said rod-engaging portion, said projection means extending into said 6 v groove means and supportingly engaging said means defining said groove means, said surface means extending at least as high as said bracket whereby said bracket is concealed from view from in front of said red by said surface means;

securing means supported on said bracket and located readwardly of said rod and releasably supportingly engaging said rod at a position laterally spaced from said groove means whereby said projection means and said securing means support said rod on said bracket.

2. A traverse rod and support bracket according to claim 1, in which said means defining said groove means is located between the front and rear walls of said rod and includes laterally extending flange means spaced upwardly from and located directly above a portion of the top wall of said rod, said projection means extending transversely of said rod in the opposite direction with respect to said lateral opening of said means defining each said groove means, said surface means extending upwardly to a point at least level with the upper surface of said horizontal rod-engaging portion of said bracket and being located in front thereof so that said surface means conceals said bracket from view on front of said rod.

3. A traverse rod and support bracket, comprising:

a one piece, elongated hollow traverse rod of uniform cross section throughout its lentgh, said rod having front, top and rear walls, said rod having laterally extending flange means spaced upwardly from and located directly above a portion of the top wall of said rod and located between said front and rear walls and defining with said top wall groove means which opens in one lateral direction with respect to said rod, said rod having upstanding wall means disposed in front of and extending at least as high as said groove means whereby said groove means is concealed from view from in front of said rod by said wall means;

a bracket comprising a mounting portion located rearwardly of said rear wall of said rod and a stationary horizontal rod-engaging portion extending front- Wardly from said mounting portion over said top wall of said rod, said rod-engaging portion having an upper surface which extends not appreciably higher than the upper edge of said wall means whereby said bracket is concealed from view from in front of said rod by said wall means, said rod-engaging portion having stationary projection means which extends in the opposite lateral direction with respect to said rod and which projects into said groove means through the open end thereof and supportingly engages said flange means;

said rod having further rearwardly projecting flange means laterally spaced from said first-named flange means and located close to the juncture of said top and rear walls, and a locking member supported on the underside of said rod-engaging portion at a position rearwardly of said rear wall of said rod and releasably supporting said further flange means, and means supporting said locking member for independent movement with respect to said bracket, said further flange means being separable from clamping engagement with said locking member.

4. A traverse rod and support bracket, comprising:

an elongated hollow traverse rod having front, top and rear walls, said rod having laterally extending flange means spaced upwardly from the top wall thereof and located between said front and rear Walls and extending toward the rear wall of said rod, said flange means defining with said top wall groove means which opens toward the rear wall of the rod, said rod having upstanding wall means disposed in front of and extending at least as high as said groove means whereby said groove means is concealed from view from in front of said rod by said wall means, said rod having further rearwardly projecting flange means laterally spaced from the first-named flange means and located adjacent the juncture of the top and rear Walls of said rod;

a stationary bracket having a mounting portion located rearwardly of said rear wall of said rod and a horizontal rod-engaging portion extending frontwardly from said mounting portion over said top wall of said rod and overlying at least part of said rod including said further flange means, said mounting portion being fastenable to a supporting surface, a stationary projection on said rod-engaging portion extending forwardly with respect to said rod and underlying and supportingly engaging said first-named flange means; and

a locking member supported on the underside of said rod-engaging portion at a position located rearwardly of said rear wall of said rod and releasably supportingly engaging said further flange means, said further flange means being separable from engagement with said locking member.

5. A traverse rod and support bracket according to claim 4, in which said further flange means is substantially flush with said top wall of said rod, said rod-engaging portion having a flat lower surface engaging a flat portion of said top wall of said rod and said locking member projects downwardly from said lower surface for underlying said further flange means, and means for moving said locking member toward said lower surface and into gripping engagement with said further flange means.

'6. A traverse rod,.comprising:

an elongated tube having a uniform cross section including a substantially partially cylindrical wall portion on one lengthwise side thereof and a substantally flat wall on the opposite side thereof, said partially cylindrical wall having a plurality of lengthwise extending, circumferentially spaced indentations thereon, a rearwardly projecting flange spaced upwardly from the upper wall portion of said tube, a lengthwise flange projecting rearwardly at the intersection of said upper wall portion and said flat wall, the entirety of said tube lying with an imaginary cylinder having a radius equal to a radius passing through the outermost points on said cylindrical wall portion.

7. A traverse rod and support bracket comprising:

a bracket adapted for mounting on a support and including rod engaging means at one support point therein;

an elongated rod including a bracket engaging means on its upper side for cooperation with said rod engaging means;

said engaging means comprising cooperating tongue and groove means which are relatively long in a direction longitudinally of the rod and relatively narrow in a direction transversely of the rod, said tongue and groove means interfitting closely enough to prevent relative rotation between said rod and said bracket when only said respective engaging means of each at said one support point are interengaged.

8. The device defined in claim 7, in which said rod has a frontward portion spaced forwardly from said engaging means to cause the portion of said rod on the rearward side of said engaging means to bear against said bracket.

9. In a traverse rod assembly, traverse rod engaging means comprising:

a traverse rod having first and second, spaced, up-

wardly extending lugs, said lugs supporting a pair of flanges extending similarly with respect to each other and spaced above the body of said traverse rod to define respectively first and second grooves, said first lug being adjacent one edge of said traverse rod and said second lug being spaced transversely therefrom;

a body member having a horizontal portion;

a first depending rib positioned on said horizontal portion for engaging said second lug on the side thereof toward said first lug and a second depending rib spaced from said first rib in a direction oppositely from said first lug; and

means at one 'end of said horizontal portion for engaging the one of said flanges located on said first lug and a removable locking key for engaging the other of said flanges, said locking key being receivable between said ribs and into said second groove; and

releasable means for holding said locking key snugly in place between said second rib and within said second groove.

10. The device defined in claim 9 wherein said second rib has a tapered forward surface and said key has a tapered rearward surface, said tapered surfaces contacting each other when the key is at least partially retracted whereby tightening of said releasable means will urge said key forwardly into engaged position.

11. The device defined in claim 9 wherein said second rib has a tapered forward surface and an adjacent horizontal surface and said key has a tapered rearward surface and an adjacent horizontal surface, so that when said key is fully retracted said horizontal surfaces will contact each other and when said key is only partially retracted only said tapered surfaces will contact each other, whereby with said key partially retracted tightening of said releasable means will urge said key forwardly into engaged position but with said key fully retracted tightening of said releasable means will not move said key.

12. The device defined in claim 9 wherein said key has a curved edge and is eccentrically mounted pivotally on said horizontal portion whereby in one position said key will supportingly engage said other of said flanges from below and in another position said key will not engage said other of said flanges.

13. In an assembly for mounting a traverse rod fixedly with respect to other means, the combination comprising:

a traverse rod having first and second, spaced, upwardly extending lugs, said lugs supporting a pair of flanges extending similarly with respect to each other and spaced above the body of said traverse rod to define respectively first and second grooves, said first lug being adjacent one edge of said traverse rod and said second lug being spaced transversely therefrom;

a fastener having a horizontal portion and means associated therewith for fastening said portion to said other means;

a first depending rib positioned on said horizontal portion for engaging said second lug on the side thereof toward said first lug and a second depending rib spaced from said first rib in a direction oppositely from said first lug; and

means at one end of said horizontal portion for engaging the one of said flanges located on said first lug and a removable locking key for engaging the other of said flanges, said locking key being receivable between said ribs and into said second groove;

and releasable means for holding said locking key snugly in place between said second rib and within said second groove.

14. In a mutually cooperating traverse rod and fastening structure to be associated therewith, the combination comprising:

an elongated traverse rod having a pair of laterally spaced lengthwise flanges spaced upwardly from the upper surface thereof, said flanges extending in the same direction laterally with respect to said rod and defining with said upper surface a pair of grooves which open in the same lateral direction;

a bracket having a horizontal member overlying at least part of said rod including at least one of said flanges, said bracket being fastenable to a supporting surface;

a projection on said horizontal member extending in the opposite lateral direction with respect to said rod, said projection underlying and supportingly engaging the other of said flanges; and

a locking key supported on the underside of said horizontal member and releasably supportingly engaging said one flange, said one flange being separable from engagement with said locking key.

15. A structure according to claim 14, in which said locking key is comprised of a plate-form member and including a screw extending through said plate-form member and threaded into said horizontal member, said screw having an enlarged head for releasably clamping said plate-form member against said horizontal member.

16. A structure according to claim 15, in which said plate-form member has a laterally elongated slot through which said screw extends so that said plate-form member can be moved laterally along said horizontal member when said screw is out of clamping engagement there with.

17. The device defined in claim 11 wherein said key has an elongated slot therethrough and wherein said releasable means comprises a screw passing through said slot and 'threadedly engaged with said horizontal portion, said slot being of suflicient length to allow said key to move between said engaged position and said fully retracted position when said screw is sufliciently loosened.

18. The device defined in claim 11 wherein said one of said flanges extends from said first lug toward said second lug whereby said first groove opens towards said second lug;

said one edge of said traverse rod adjacent said first lug being the top edge of the forward side of said rod which is normally visible when said rod is installed and supporting draperies;

said one end of said horizontal portion being positioned behind said first lug and the upper surface of said horizontal portion being approximately level with the upper face of said one of said flanges whereby said body member may be installed with its upper surface in contact with a ceiling without interference by said one flange and whereby said body member will be normally fully concealed by said forward side and said first lug.

19. A traverse rod assembly comprising:

an elongated traverse rod having first and second laterally spaced, longitudinally extending lugs extending upwardly from the upper surface thereof, a laterally extending flange at the upper end of each lug defining a groove which is open toward one lateral side of said rod, both said flanges extending in the same direction so that both grooves open toward the same side of said rod;

a body member having a horizontal portion extending over one of said flanges and terminating in a shoulder adjacent the free end of the other flange;

a downwardly ofifset projection below said shoulder and projecting into said groove defined by said other flange and supportingly engaging said other flange;

a locking key mounted on and disposed below said horizontal portion adjacent said one lateral side of said rod, said locking key projecting into the other groove and supportingly engaging said one flange, said locking key being movable into and out of said other groove; and

cooperably engaging downwardly extending surface means on said horizontal portion and upwardly extending surface means on said rod between said lugs for preventing lateral shifting of said rod with respect to said horizontal portion in a direction which would move said projection and locking key out of said grooves.

20. A traverse rod assembly according to claim 19, in-

cluding a rib extending downwardly from said horizontal portion at a point on the opposite side of said locking key from said other groove, said rib having a lateral surface which is inclined upwardly and toward said locking key;

said locking key comprising a plate-form member having a downwardly extending flange at the end thereof opposite said other groove, said flange being inclined in the same fashion as said lateral surface of said lug and being slideably engagea-ble therewith, said plate-form member having a laterally elongated slot therethrough; and

a screw extending through said slot and threaded into said horizontal member.

21. A traverse rod and support bracket, comprising:

an elongated traverse rod having front, top and rear walls, wall means directly above and extending generally parallel with a portion of said top wall and defining therewith. groove means of substantial depth and which is open along one lateral side thereof, said groove means extending lengthwise of the rod above and generally parallel with said top wall;

a bracket having a horizontal member overlying at least part of said rod, elongated projection means on said horizontal member and extending parallel with said top wall, said projection means extending into said groove means and snugly slideably contacting said wall means and said top wall and substantially fully occupying said groove means whereby said rod is supported on said bracket and is held against pivotal movement with respect thereto; and

said rod having upstanding surface means disposed in front of and extending above said groove means and also extending at least substantially as high as said bracket whereby said groove means and said bracket are concealed from view from in front of said rod by said surface means; and

securing means supported on said bracket for clamping said rod to said bracket.

22. A traverse rod and support bracket, comprising:

an elongated hollow traverse rod having front, top and rear walls and having longitudinally extending slot means below said top wall, a generally L-shaped flange extending upwardly from said top wall between said front and rear walls, one leg of said flange directly overlying and extending generally parallel with a portion of said top wall and defining therewith a groove which is open along one lateral side thereof;

a stationary bracket having a mounting portion located rearwardly of said rear wall of said rod and having a horizontal rod-engaging portion extending frontwardly from said mounting portion over said top wall of said rod, a stationary projection on said rodengaging portion and extending into said groove and supportingly engaging said flange; and

said rod having upstanding surface means disposed in front of and extending above said groove and also extending at least substantially as high as said bracket whereby said groove and said bracket are concealed from view from in front of said rod by said surface means; and

securing means supported on said bracket and releasably supportingly engaging said rod at a position laterally spaced from said groove means.

23. A traverse rod and support bracket, comprising:

an elongated hollow traverse rod having front, top and rear walls and having a longitudinally extending slot in said rear Wall, said top wall having laterally extending flange means above said top wall defining a groove which opens in one lateral direction with respect to said rod, said rod also having a rearwardly extending flange near the juncture of said top and rear walls;

a bracket having a mounting portion located rearwardly of said rear wall of said rod and having a horizontal I 1 12 rod-engaging portion extending frontwardly over the References Cited by the Examiner top wall of said rod, a projection on said rod-engag- UNITED STATES PATENTS ing portion extending into said groove and supportingly engaging said flange means; 940,770 11/1909 said rod having upstanding surface means disposed in 5 110271713 5/1912 Ferns 16 94 front of and extending above said groove and also 2720373 10/1955 Bell 16-94 extending at least substantially as high as said bracket 3,060,489 10/1962 Blackner 1694 whereby said groove and said bracket are concealed 3,129,751 4/1964 16*94 X from view from in front of said rod by said surface 3134132 5/1964 Graber 16' 9 4 means; and 10 3,183,546 5/1965 Heller et a1. 16-94 a locking member supported on the underside of said FOREIGN PATENTS rod engaging portion at a position rearwardly of said 27 137 1 1924 France.

rear wall of said rod and extending under said rear- 993 4 1861 Great Britain wardly extending flange and means supporting said 5 343,084 1/1960 S it 1 d locking member for movement with respect to said bracket in order to releasably secure said rearwardly BOBBY Pr'mary Examiner extending flange to said bracket. PATRICK A. CLIFFORD, Examiner. 

1. A TRAVERSE ROD AND SUPPORT BRACKET, COMPRISING AN ELONGATED HOLLOW TRAVERSE ROD HAVING FRONT, TOP AND REAR WALLS, SAID TOP WALL HAVING MEANS DEFINING GROOVE MEANS WHICH IS OPEN ALONG ONE LATERAL SIDE THEREOF, SAID ROD HAVING UPSTANDING SURFACE MEANS EXTENDING FROM ONE END TO THE OTHER END OF SAID ROD AND DISPOSED IN FRONT OF AND EXTENDING ABOVE SAID GROOVE MEANS WHEREBY SAID GROOVE MEANS IS CONCEALED FROM VIEW FROM IN FRONT OF SAID ROD BY SAID SURFACE MEANS; A BRACKET HAVING A MOUNTING PORTION LOCATED REARWARDLY OF SAID REAR WALL OF SAID ROD AND HAVING A HORIZONTAL ROD-ENGAGING PORTION EXTENDING FRONTWARDLY FROM SAID MOUNTING PORTION OVER SAID TOP WALL OF SAID ROD, SAID MOUNTING PORTION BEING FASTENABLE TO A SUPPORTING SURFACE, PROJECTION MEANS ON SAID ROD-ENGAGING PORTION, SAID PROJECTION MEANS EXTENDING INTO SAID GROOVE MEANS AND SUPPORTINGLY ENGAGING SAID MEANS DEFINING SAID GROOVE MEANS, SAID SURFACE MEANS EXTENDING AT LEAST AS HIGH AS SAID BRACKET WHEREBY SAID BRACKET IS CONCEALED FROM VIEW FROM IN FRONT OF SAID ROD BY SAID SURFACE MEANS; SECURING MEANS SUPPORTED ON SAID BRACKET AND LOCATED READWARDLY OF SAID ROD AND RELEASABLY SUPPORTINGLY ENGAGING SAID ROD AT A POSITION LATERALLY SPACED FROM SAID GROOVE MEANS WHEREBY SAID PROJECTION MEANS AND SAID SECURING MEANS SUPPORT SAID ROD ON SAID BRACKET. 